Guiding Principles

Guiding Principles

The National Weekend of Prayer for Transgender Justice is a collaborative effort rooted in partnership. The following principles have guided the partnerships, resources, and outreach that went into creating the National Weekend of Prayer for Transgender Justice. The Religious Institute shares these guiding principles in hopes that faith communities may join in embodying them as they observe the weekend of prayer.

We acknowledge the truth that transgender people are under attack in the United States and across the globe, and that this attack is not new even if many people have only recently become aware of it. We take action out of the knowledge that transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people are fighting for survival.

We recognize that particular transgender populations are bearing the brunt of violence and discrimination–most notably women and femmes, people of color, youth, elders, people with disabilities, and immigrants and refugees–and in all of our efforts at solidarity, we commit to centering the voices and needs of those who are most vulnerable.

We know that transgender communities and organizations hold the keys to their own liberation, and the job of non-trans-led organizations and faith communities is to work in partnership with trans communities and “pass the mic” to trans leaders rather than speaking for them.

We honor the fact that transgender people are fierce, resilient, and vibrant–not inherently downtrodden, traumatized, or people to be pitied and/or saved–and recognize that it’s the responsibility of non-trans people to remove obstacles in order to allow trans people to survive and thrive.

We affirm the incredible spiritual diversity of transgender communities and the fact that trans people are already a part of our faith traditions, and we seek to follow the lead of trans faith leaders.

We recognize that transgender people are treated with fear, hatred, disgust, and lurid fascination by mainstream media and many conservative faith leaders, and we commit to upholding the dignity, agency, and humanity of people of all gender identities and expressions, particularly in the face of intolerance.

We acknowledge that organized religion has often been an unsafe space for transgender people, and we commit to provide safe and sacred space to children, youth, young adults, adults, and elders of all gender identities and expressions, supporting each other in deepening our understandings of ourselves and one another in community.